On World Press Freedom Day, the International Press Institute calls on political and corporate leaders worldwide to take urgent, decisive action in support of press freedom and independent journalism 鈥� and to seize this moment to help reverse the global tide of authoritarianism.
As recent events in Hungary showed, the global slide into authoritarianism is neither inevitable nor unstoppable. And a press that exposes truth and holds the powerful to account is indeed a potent tool against autocracy 鈥� and a powerful antidote to propaganda and disinformation.聽
We therefore call on these global leaders to recognise this critical turning point and step up to support independent journalists and press freedom, which are indispensable to free society and democracy.聽
Over the past two decades, the media community around the world has come under unprecedented and escalating attack. Journalists are killed, arrested, censored and surveilled with impunity. Autocrats openly seek to dismantle checks on their power and brazenly flout the rule of law, as they demonise and discredit journalists and media outlets as 鈥渆nemies,鈥� 鈥渇oreign agents,鈥� and 鈥渟pies.鈥� These attacks have grown more brazen in recent years, as the space for independent journalism continues to shrink.
We are deeply alarmed by the silence of those with the power and platform to push back. Global leaders who occupy immensely powerful positions in both the political and corporate worlds have grown increasingly reluctant to publicly defend journalists and the essential democratic function they serve. Too few step forward to defend the principles of press freedom when these principles come under attack 鈥� when it matters most.聽
We remind these powerful actors that a free and independent media serves everyone 鈥� including political and business leaders 鈥� by providing reliable information, accountability, and public trust upon which stable societies, democracies, and economies depend.聽
On World Press Freedom Day, we urge these leaders to correct course and take immediate action to help build an environment in which the free press can thrive and carry out their critical work, independently and without fear or favour.聽
As IPI has done for the past 75 years, we stand in full solidarity with the independent journalists across the globe who continue to report the truth and hold the powerful to account, often at great personal risk. We stand with you 鈥� and we will not be silent.